Criminal Justice News

Thursday, June 04, 2015

Former FBI Special Agent Indicted for Theft of Drug Proceeds and Obstruction of Justice

A former special agent of the FBI was indicted yesterday for
allegedly stealing over $100,000 of drug proceeds seized during the execution
of search warrants and obstructing justice by taking steps to hide his alleged
theft.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice
Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Angel D. Gunn of the
Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General’s Los Angeles Field Office
made the announcement.

“As alleged, former Agent Bowman put his own greed above the
trust placed in him by the FBI and the American public,” said Assistant
Attorney General Caldwell.“Corrupt law
enforcement agents not only compromise those investigations in which they are
involved, but also damage the reputations of fellow law enforcement officers
who are dedicated to public service and the protection of all Americans.”

Scott M. Bowman, 44, of Moreno Valley, California, was
charged in the Central District of California with three counts of conversion
of property by a federal employee, three counts of obstruction of justice, two
counts of money laundering, one count of falsification of records and one count
of witness tampering.

According to allegations in the indictment, which was
unsealed today, Bowman misappropriated over $100,000 of drug proceeds seized in
June and August 2014 during the execution of three search warrants.The defendant allegedly misappropriated these
funds after they were transferred to his custody in his official capacity as a
federal law enforcement officer.

The indictment alleges that Bowman used the stolen money for
his own purposes, including spending $43,850 in cash to purchase a 2012 Dodge
Challenger coupe, $27,500 in cash to purchase a 2013 Toyota Scion FR-S coupe
and approximately $26,612 in cash to outfit these vehicles with new equipment
including speakers, rims and tires.According to the allegations in the indictment, the defendant also used
approximately $15,000 of the misappropriated cash to pay for cosmetic surgery
for his spouse, and opened a checking account into which he deposited
approximately $10,665 of the stolen funds, a portion of which he used to pay
for a weekend stay at a luxury hotel, casino and resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.

According to the indictment, to conceal his misappropriation
of the drug proceeds, Bowman allegedly falsified official FBI reports and other
records.Specifically, in connection
with one of the seizures, Bowman allegedly endorsed an evidence receipt knowing
that it did not accurately reflect the amount of cash seized and altered the
same receipt by forging the signature of a police detective next to his own.

The indictment further alleges that Bowman made false
representations to his colleagues regarding the disposition of certain seized
drug proceeds.In addition, Bowman
allegedly sent an email to the detective whose signature Bowman had forged
setting forth a detailed cover story that the detective should offer if asked
about Bowman’s activities with respect to the seized drug proceeds.According to the indictment, Bowman also
allegedly provided the detective with a copy of the forged receipt so that the
detective falsely could claim the forged signature as his own, if asked.

The charges contained in an indictment are merely
accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven
guilty.

This case was investigated by the Department of Justice
Office of the Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys
Robert J. Heberle and Lauren Bell of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity
Section.